Medical tourism in bariatric surgery

作者：Birch Daniel W^*; Vu Lan; Karmali Shahzeer; Stoklossa Carlene Johnson; Sharma Arya M

来源：American Journal of Surgery, 2010, 199(5): 604-608.

DOI：10.1016/j.amjsurg.2010.01.002

• Obesity
• Bariatric surgery
• Medical tourism
• Surgical complications

BACKGROUND: The number of Canadians who self-refer for bariatric surgery outside of Canada or to private clinics within Canada remains undefined. The outcomes from this questionable practice have not been evaluated systematically to date.
METHODS: We completed a chart review of known cases referred to our center for complications related to medical tourism and bariatric surgery.
RESULTS: We present a series of patients who have experienced complications because of medical tourism for bariatric surgery and required urgent surgical management at a tertiary care center within Canada. Complications have resulted from 3 commonly used procedures: adjustable gastric banding, gastric sleeve resection, and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
CONCLUSIONS: Because of this review, we propose that a medical tourism approach to the surgical management of obesity-a chronic disease-is inappropriate and raises clear ethical and moral issues.

• 出版日期2010-5